New Delhi: Olympic bronze-winning grappler Sakshi Malik on Monday dominated out a return to aggressive wrestling, saying the long-standing protest in opposition to former nationwide federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment has left her mentally tormented.
The 31-year-old Malik had introduced retirement in December final yr after Sharan Singh’s shut aide Sanjay Singh was elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in a tearful press convention.
She, together with one other Olympic-bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting for months, demanding Sharan Singh’s removing and arrest.
“It’s been greater than a yr, there may be a lot psychological stress and we have now been attempting to combat in each doable option to make this protest a hit, so I’ll not be capable of proceed wrestling,” Malik stated in a panel dialogue on the affect of the #MeToo motion in India.
“I obtained (Olympic) bronze for India and I need my juniors to get silver and gold. I’d like to see each woman in India pursuing her desires,” she added.
Mailk, Punia and Phogat have continued protesting in opposition to Sharan Singh even after his removing as WFI head.
They’ve alleged that the brand new federation president is merely a figure-head and Sharan Singh is definitely calling the pictures.
Her refusal to come back out of retirement guidelines Malik out of this month’s nationwide trials for the Olympic qualifiers. Punia has already withdrawn, saying he wouldn’t take part in any occasion organised by the Sanjay Singh-led WFI.
The WFI was lately granted a reprieve when the provisional suspension on it was lifted by United World Wrestling (UWW) on the situation that the protesting wrestlers can be invited for all trials and there can be no discrimination.
“Many individuals have advised me to proceed however I don’t need to wrestle amongst individuals like Brij Bhushan. It feels dangerous if you see him strolling round freely. It appears he’s nonetheless in management,” she stated.
“I’ve not simply heard about these incidents, I’ve personally skilled the harassment. I’ve given up wrestling however kids are hoping that our motion will boot out individuals like Brij Bhushan. We’ve got carried out all the things we may.
“I’m as soon as once more pleading with authorities to make sure that individuals associated to him should not allowed into wrestling’s administration. I’ll all the time keep constructive and I’m hoping for a constructive final result,” she added.
